THE FIRST full day in the trial of two accused of causing the death of Lola James from Haverfordwest has concluded.

The Crown Prosecution presented their opening statement on Wednesday morning (Mar 8).

Caroline Ress KC, for the prosecution, gave a distressing and harrowing account of the timeline and circumstances into the nature in which the toddler received a catastrophic head injury which led to her death.

Kyle Bevan, 31 of Aberystwyth, is accused of murdering the toddler during a “frenzied, brutal and violent attack”.

Sinead James, 30 of Haverfordwest, the tot’s mum, is accused of allowing or causing the death of her child.

Between the hours of 4.26am and 6.32am, the prosecution claims that Bevan launched a “murderous attack” on Lola and made attempts to “take the coward’s way out” by covering his tracks.

Caroline Rees KC, tells how Bevan made internet searches, took photos and videos of the limp tot whilst she laid barely conscious on the sofa.

It is the Crown’s submission that between the time that Lola received the injuries and when emergency services were called, Bevan completed a clean-up operation.

In images shown to the court time-stamped at 22.28 of July 16, 2020, Lola can be seen well with no apparent injuries, smiling with a temporary transfer on her right arm.

However the prosecution goes on to say that when Lola was presented to the hospital early the following morning (July 17, 2020), there was no evidence of the temporary tattoo.

The court was shown a number of photographs of the family home, which was dirty, messy, cluttered and extremely unkempt. All except a sparkling clean bathtub, which was not in keeping with the general state of the rest of the property.

A photograph of a grey onesie, which the prosecution say has blood stains on it, was shown to the court. This item was recovered by police, stashed in a cluttered area of the front room.

The prosecution claims that this shows Bevan’s intent to complete a clean up operation.

In the opening statement, Caroline Rees KC told the court how Lola had 101 separate surface injuries on her body.

The court heard that along with the surface injuries, the catastrophic head injury, Lola presented with retinal haemorrhages in both eyes and all layers of the retina – something which the Crown say is in keeping with being subjected to a shaking mechanism.

The court heard how, although there was no suggestion Lola’s mum, Sinead James, was involved in the assault, the past domestic violence in the relationship should have set alarm bells ringing.

It was explained that Bevan had a “nasty temper” especially whilst under the influence of controlled drugs, namely amphetamine.

Previous violent incidents experienced by James and the children were heard.

However, one incident which is said should have set alarm bells ringing was an incident in which Bevan pushed a child in a pram into the road and said: “F**k it”.

The pram and child were retrieved by James quickly.

Caroline Rees KC said: “Messages between the couple in the months before demonstrate an escalation of abuse and aggression within the domestic home.

“Exposing the children to significant risk.

“She did nothing to keep lola safe.

“Instead she left Lola in Bevan’s sole care while she went to bed, only for the result of the tragic consequences that we know occurred.”

Lola had sustained injuries in the months leading up to July 16, whilst being in custody of Bevan, including black eyes and grazing to her chin.

These injuries were explained away by Bevan as accidents, excuses which James accepted.

At 4.26am on the morning of July 17, 2020, Bevan took a photograph of Lola on his mobile phone, which showed her standing up and conscious, but with red marks on her back area. It is not believed Lola had sustained the head injury at this point.

At 6.33am Bevan typed the following into an internet search bar: “My two-year-old child has just taken a bang to the head and gone all limp and snoring, what’s wrong?.”

This was followed up by a screenshot from a medical website which showed symptoms of a serious head injury and where it clearly states that emergency care must be sought immediately.

Despite this warning, Bevan still made no attempts to wake James or call for an ambulance.

Bevan went on to text his mother asking her what he should do.

Distressing videos and photos that were found on Bevan’s phone, were shown to the court.

In the photos it showed Lola laying limp, appearing unconscious and with obvious swelling and bruising to her forehead and lips.

Those photographs were taken by Bevan on his mobile phone more than an hour before an ambulance was called.

In a video played to the court, Bevan can be seen recording himself on his phone lifting Lola up off the sofa and trying to get her to stand.

Lola was limp and when he let her go; she fell to the floor making an extremely loud thump.

Bevan then picked her up, placed her on the sofa, put a blanket over her midriff area of her body, before looking at the camera and saying “she’s gone”.

Despite obvious signs of Lola being seriously injured, Bevan still had not made any attempts to wake Lola’s mother Sinead James or call for medical help.

At just before 7.30am, after numerous texts between Bevan and his mother, he eventually asked her to call an ambulance, stating that he was unable to do so from his phone.

This is denied by the prosecution, based on the fact he had made calls to a friend in that time period and had made several internet searches.

Caroline Rees KC said: “Kyle Bevan murdered Lola by seriously assaulting her.

“The Injuries noted were caused by brutal and serious physical violence.

“Rather than face up, Bevan tried to save himself.

“Rather than call 999 immediately, he took a coward’s escape by placing false blame on the family dog.

“The injuries sustained are wholly inconsistent with an accident. Instead they are a result of a frenzied, brutal and violent attack at the hands of someone she should have been able to trust.”

It is Bevan’s defence that the injuries received by Lola were a result of the family jumping up at her in a playful way and knocking her down the stairs.

The case will continue tomorrow at 10.30am.